Stereo microscope made by Swift, model SBW, vintage
unknown. This scope has dual objectives with no marked power, and two sets
of eye pieces 10x and 15x. All in all it is in nice condition,
purchased cheap off of eBay. I am thinking that the objectives might be 2x
giving a power of 20x and 30x. I don't know how but to guess at the final
power.

The scope came with a nice if bit tattered wooden box there are numerous
slots and boxes. Note the rocks on the table they were subject matter in
the next paragraphs.

One of the desires is to have the ability to take pictures through the
microscope. I always thought these were termed microphotographs, but was
corrected by someone that they are actually termed photomicrographs.
Checking out the internet for some kind of adapter what I found was a lot of
eyepieces that would screw to filter screw of a camera. One common camera
to use for this task is the Nikon Coolpix of which I have one, model 990.
This is a top of the line 3.34 megapixel digital camera circa seven plus years
ago. Which means it is a long way from the top anymore, but it is still a very
capable piece of equipment and it being that it has been around in a lot of
configurations for a long time, it has a lot of adapters and other apparatus
that is available in the aftermarket. Nikon no longer makes the
990........... I think the last one was called the CP 4500.

This one is made in India and costs $1724 INR's or about $39 USD, it replaces
the eye piece and screws into the filter thread of the Coolpix
camera. This would especially useful for a scope that had a third
ocular tube so that one could view and also take pictures at the same
time.

Offers another for $59.95.

One of the nice attributes of the Coolpix cameras is that the view screen can
be rotated so that in a use like this one can still see the screen.

One of the problems with these adapters is the amount of strain they place
upon the threads of the lens. It is one thing to screw a filter into these
threads and quite another to affix an entire camera. The 990 weighs in at
over a pound, compared to a fraction of an ounce for a filter.

Internet, the marvelous resource that affords us so much information, I found
a site that is reprinted here.

Photomicroscopy with a Nikon Coolpix 990Digital Camera

by Vishnu V. B Reddy, Alabama, USA

Several recent name-brand consumer cameras
(Nikon, Olympus, Fuji, and Minolta) have a >3 megapixel CCD and are capable
of high-resolution photography. They also have a host of other features
which makes them ideal for photomicroscopy. Many of these cameras can be
easily adapted to take good quality pictures through a microscope. The
following is a discussion of ideal features of the Coolpix 990 camera and the
author's adapter design for photomicroscopy.

All current Coolpix models have fixed lenses
and are not capable of accepting a “projected” image from microscope
objective lenses. However, a secondary lens system, such as relay
lens/eyepiece optics, is necessary to properly focus and project image on to
the camera CCD.

Theoretically, any eyepiece works inside the
adapter. However, a wide field, high point ocular lens WHK 10X20,
(standard on most recent microscopes,) works best inside the adapter and yield
distortion free high quality images. The CP990 lens size, (filter size
28 mm,) matches the outer diameter of most microscope eyepieces and makes this
an ideal camera for photomicroscopy. To avoid image vignetting, distance
between the camera lens and relay lens/eyepiece should be kept to minimum,
(ideally under 3 mm.) The adapter is designed to hold the relay
lens/eyepiece at 2 mm in front of the camera lens.

Most digicam cameras, including the CP990,
have delicate filter threads and are not designed for supporting camera body
weight and therefore can be a source of camera vibrations. The adapter
horizontal plate with tripod screw attachment bears the camera body weight,
provides stability, and eliminates vibrations. The adapter can be
connected to the ocular tube on the binocular head; however, for optimal
comfort and stability, a trinocular tube (phototube) is preferred.
Parfocality between LCD screen and microscope oculars is achieved by adjusting
the adapter height on the phototube.

Camera Setting and Image Capture

The following camera settings are ideal to
use with the CP990 camera mounted on Olympus BX-50 microscope.

1. Microscope Illumination – Adjust for
adequate brightness at all magnifications, (objective lens 2x – 100x oil.)2. White Balance - Manual preset, an actual
reading is taken through the “clear part” of the microscope slide.
(Avoid tissue and smear areas when measuring white balance.) Once this
is done, the camera’s “color balance” or color temperature is set
according to the existing microscope illumination setting.3. Lens Settings - Set camera lens in macro
or infinity mode at slightly telephoto zoom range.4. Flash - disable internal flash.5. Metering – Set camera on “M-REC”,
“P” matrix mode.6. Image Adjustment – “Auto” or
“Normal” mode. Contrast setting according to the type of slides
being photographed. Hematoxylin-eosin stained slides need slightly
higher contrast, and Wright-Giemsa stain may need low contrast setting.7. Image Sharpening – Set on auto or
normal.8. Image quality and size - 3:2 image size
(aspect ratio) and quality at “normal” or “fine” setting.9. Exposure Compensation – 0.3+– 0.7+
steps, depending on the type of slide (Wright stain vs. Hematoxylin-eosin
stain.)10. Optical Axis Alignment – Field
diaphragm is closed until it is reduced to a small circle and is centered on
the LCD screen and oculars by adjusting substage condenser or by
repositioning camera body on the adapter. After the field diaphragm is
centered, it is completely opened.11. Framing and Focusing – Oculars
are used for finding the appropriate area on the slide and same if framed on
the on LCD screen. (Slight zoom adjustment may be needed for proper
framing of the image.) For low power images critical focusing can also
be achieved by “digital zooming” feature and resetting zoom back to 1x
before the final exposure. Large (optional) LCD/CRT monitor may
facilitate in focusing the low power images.12. Remote Release Cable (MC-EU1) – A very
useful accessory inphotomicroscopy, it not only eliminates
camera vibrations, but also helps in framing the image through remote zoom
control.13. Post Exposure Processing –
Minimal image processing, such as image sharpening (unsharp mask),
brightness, and contrast adjustments may be needed for some images.
Many imaging programs such as PhotoShop or Paint Shop Pro, etc. are capable
of accomplishing this.

The adapter is home designed, and
made from aluminum stock at the research machine shop located in the
University Alabama Medical Center campus. The machine shop is a
non-commercial operation, and supports only the research activity at
the University Medical center.

Fig 2. Microscope adapter and various
eyepieces tested with this setup. Best results are obtained with high
point wide field eyepieces.

Fig 3. Nikon CP990 secured by tripod
screw on the adapter plate.

Fig 4. Nikon CP990 mounted on Olympus
BX-50 series microscope. Film based system (foreground) used for
more critical photography!

Fig 5. CP990 white balance adjustment
– Reading is taken on the clear area of the slide.

Using Dr. Reddy's recommendation of 2mm to 3mm distance between the camera
lens and the eye piece lens I took a few pictures myself, just to see if this
would work. I like his adapter, it puts the strain on the mounting screw
of the camera and not the lens threads, and it just doesn't look that difficult
to make. It is designed to slide right over the ocular tube.

Subjects are three random rocks brought back from a recent trip to Costa Rica

The far right is a red smooth stone, looking like it has been weather in
stream bed. I am not sure what the power is but here goes.

Not so great a picture and had to be reduced so to show.

Here is full size image.

This is the same spot that is in the center of the previous picture.
Not very clear but still impressive.

Here is rock number two full size image.

And saving the best for last.

Here is rock number three:

Now that is pretty cool.

My daughter brings over a magazine, shinny high quality pages and we go to
view at magnification, you know dots and pixels:

This is all so exciting in a grammar school science class kind of way.